Dutch coalition partners agree on government deal, seek party backing

The four Dutch political parties that have been working on a coalition agreement have struck a deal which they will present to their parliamentary groups on Monday afternoon, local media reported.

The plan is likely to be unveiled in detail during a press conference on Tuesday. Later this week, Gerrit Zalm, who led the negotiations, will inform parliament about the formation process.

If approved, the coalition will consist of Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the conservative Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the liberal D66 and the conservative Christian Union (CU).

Sybrand Buma, the parliamentary leader of CDA, said he will ask for his MPs’ backing this afternoon.

Alexander Pechtold, D66’s leader, said a deal with the CU was not his first choice, but added that the final agreement was “balanced.”

Rutte will almost certainly remain prime minister, and he is likely to be reappointed later this week. He will then form a Cabinet, which is on course to be sworn in later this month.

The Dutch have been without a new government since the March 15 parliamentary election.